For a dozen years, Anthony Patchell served his country until an explosion in Iraq in 2003 left him disabled.

On Thursday, he received a thank you.

About 30 residents of the Meadows at Central Park residential development braved sub-freezing temperatures Thursday afternoon to welcome Patchell, his fiancée, Amanda Eckman and their children to their new Shelby Township home.

The celebration was precipitated by the family receiving the home — mortgage free — through the Military Warriors Support Foundation, in conjunction with Chase Bank.

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“I’m a soldier,” an emotional Patchell told his new neighbors while standing in the driveway of his new home. “I’ve slept in holes in the ground. But my family is now taken care of. I don’t have to worry about that.”

Patchell was wounded in Baghdad in the fall of 2003 by an improvised explosive device. He suffered five fractured vertebrae, seven ruptured disks and a traumatic brain stem injury.

But the full extent of Patchell’s injuries did not manifest themselves for another few years. In 2006, he found himself out of the military and unable to work.

As his official caregiver, Amanda is paid by the Veterans Administration, but the couple and their six children were crammed into a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house in their hometown, Altoona, Pa.

Last October, Amanda and Patchell applied for a home in Michigan through the Military Warriors’ program. They chose the state to be close to Amanda’s mother, Bonnie Bernard, who resides in Royal Oak.

A few months later, Patchell and Amanda learned they were accepted. On Thursday afternoon, they rolled up to their new home in a U-Haul truck after a trip from Pennsylvania.

“I could never imagine the generosity,” Patchell said. “This is a dream home. When they said I couldn’t work anymore, and you’re a civilian again and you don’t know what to do, the dreams of something like this just go away … It’s just never going to happen.

“For someone to help us out and provide something like this for my family … I don’t have words for it. It’s just amazing.”

The neighborhood welcoming committee was organized by Michael Grobbel, president of the Central Park Master Homeowners Association.

Jeff Kacerek, a field agent for Chase Bank, which donated the home, was on hand to turn over the keys to the colonial home when the family arrived.

“We’re just honored to be a part of it,” Kacerek said. “This is a great opportunity.”

Several neighbors added their welcomes and told Amanda and Patchell they would enjoy living in the neighborhood.

“We’ve heard wonderful, wonderful things,” Amanda said.

Patchell plans to get involved in his new community. He served as a reserve police officer while stationed in Colorado and already has contacted the Macomb County Sheriff Department about a similar position.